Life-preserving and swimming apparatus.



APPLICATION PILEDOOT22.1909.

Patented Mar. 22, 1910 wi'bncmcs ming Apparatus, of

- proved life-preservin UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

OTTO STROHSCHEIN, OF NEW- YORK, ;N. Y.

TIIFEPRESERVING AND SWIMMING APPARATUS;

T 0 all whom it may concern):

Be it known that I, Ono-Srnonsomam,

a citizen of the Em ire of Germany, residing in New York, 111 the boronh of Man hattan, county and Sta te of ew York,

ody, and attached by means of intercross" shoulder-straps and waiststraps to the The body of the life-preserving and swimming device ismade of stout canvas provided with a lining of waterproof fabric andconnected at the outer edges by a bind ing cemented and stitchedthereto.

l The invention consists further of certain details of constructionwhich willbe' fully described hereinafter and finally pointed out in theclaims. d a

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view ofmy imand swimming apparatus shown -as app ied to the body, Fig. 2 is afront-elevation of thesamc,- 5 read out in flatstate, and drawn on aarger scale, so as to show the construction of -the up aratus, and Fig.3 is a vertical longi' tu in'al section on line 3, 3, Fig. 2.

Similar letters of reference indicate c0r-' res ending parts throughoutthe views.

eferring to the drawings, 0. represents the body of my improved lifepreserving and swimminguapparatus. The body a 18 composed of t eeportions, a chest-portion a, which is made narrower at itsmid'dleportion and provided at its upper end with an inflating tube b providedw th a valve 72 and two end or arm-pit portions a. The chest-portion ahas two upwardly-extending portions a" one at each sidepf the mflatingtube 6, which form extensions of the chest-portion. and whichereconnected with which the following is By oementin- .Speciflcation ofLetters Patent. t t 22, '1910, Application filed October 22, no. SerialNo. 523,965.

downwardly curved portions a with short extensions a on the arm-p tportions a The upwardly-extending portions a of the chest-portion a areconnected by shoulderstraps cl and buckles d with the shorter extensionsa", the shoulder-straps d being adjustable b the buckles and crossed onthe back of the ody, as shown clearly in Figs. 1 and 2. Tothe lower'ends of the armpitportions a are attached waist-bands or straps e whichare crossed at the hack and tiedttogether in front, so that the lifereserving and swimming device is tightly eld on the upper part of thebody by. means of the intercrossing shoulder-straps d and waist-stra se.

The b y of the life-preserver is made of an exterior layer; of canvas f,an interior lining of waterproof fabric f which is connected with theexterior 1a war by means of rubber-cement and a bin ing f, which isapplied around the edge. of the body a byr'ubber cement and stitches f.and stitching the binding around-the e ges of the chest andarmpitportion's a perfectly waterproof inflatable ad is obtained.

Vt en the device is not required for use,

it is preferably folded or rolled up and then placed in the travelingbag or trunk.

When the device is required for use, it is unfolded and a'plied by meansof the int :rcrossin'g shoul er-straps and waistbands around the chestand under the armpits of the body and then inflated by blowing air intoit by means of the' valvexl tube. The buoyancy imparted to the inflatedbody and armpitportions supports the body in the water so as to act as alife-pr'eserver. The rounded off portions between the chest-portion andarm itortions ermit the tight hug ing of the. o y around the chest andum er the arm its, while the armpit-portions permit the rec u rightsupport of the body in the water. T e apparatus can also be used forswimming into deep water by persons who cannot swim.

. The advantages of my improved appara us are that it can beconveniently carried alon in the traveling bag or trunk in rolled oroldedu state and applied for use whenever require in case of dan er,while the inflating operation is quickly accomplished through the valvedtube as soon as the apparatus is applied to the body. The bodyis madenbso utely air and waterproof portion thereinflating tube,

andmpwardly extending armpit-portions, on the lower part of the aritortions or attaching the device around t e ody.

2. A life-preserving and swimming apparatus, comprising a body-portionhaving upwardly-extending portions, an upwardlyextending portion betweenthe d inflating tube between the same,

laterally and upwardly extending armpitportions formin the rear-ends ofthe bodyportion, inward? -curv'ed portions between theupwardly-extending portions and the armpitportions, intererossinshoulderstraps between the upwardly-extending por tionsand thearmpit-portions, and waistan or straps at the lower ends of the armpit-portions. 7 4

3. A life preserving and swimming apparatus, consisting of abody-portion having a chest portion adapted to rest, against the chestof the wearer, an armpit-portion adapted to rest under the arms of thewearer, up'wardlyextending rtions adapted to rest be between said upwartions, shorter extensions a apted to and an addi-- latter havingas myinvention,

in front of the shou ders a flexiblev valved lily-extending port be hindand against the armpitsand shoulders,

free end-portions extendin from said armrearwardly a ainst the andprovide with an upwardcurvature at its lower edge, pit-portion adaptedto rest under the arms of t 1e wearer, upwardly-extending portionsadapted to rest against and in front of the armpit; and shoulder andforming between each other a depressed portion, a-flexible valve-tubebetween said upwardl eXtending ortions and attached to the 7d neof saidepressed portion, shorter extei sions ada )ted to fit behind and againstthe arm pits shoulders and forming with is aid a'fmpitportions and said,(zpwardly-extendih por- .tlOllS downwardly-curved "ortions a apted tofitunder the arm its, ree e 'd-p0rtions extending :from' sai armpit'i/oi'tions upwardly and'rearwardly behin' said shorter extensions,adjustable shoti'ldenstmps connecting each of the "upwardly-extendingportions with the opposite'shorter be crossed behind the back 0 thewearer,'and' waist-straps secured to ofthe armpit ortions and be crossedbehind 51c back and tied in front of the wearer. a

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing I have signed in name inpresence of two subscribing witnesses.

I, or'ro STROHSCHEIN. \Vitnessi PAUL Goarnn, FANNIE Fisn.

extension

